Potato-cutter.



G. G. MARDEN.

POTATO CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 18, 1909.

962,373.. Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

811mm to;

2x3 in zones C/zesier GMardaz Quanta 0. MARDBN. POTATO CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l8, 1909.

962,373, Patented June 21,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

24 Z9 C/Leaier GMarden CHESTER G. MARDEN, OF BROOKS, MAINE.

POTATO-CUTTER.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER G. MARDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooks, in the county of Waldo and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Potato-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to potato cutters, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, manually operated machine for slicing up seed potatoes in proper condition for planting, the machine embodying means for dividing the potatoes into segments and means for slicing the segments into sections of suitable size for the purpose stated.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with manually oper ated knives or cutters, means for automatically retracting said cutters or returning the same to their initial points of movement, together with means for limiting the operative or cutting movements of the knives; also means for insuring the delivery of the cut sections of the potatoes into and through a suitable discharge chute.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a potato cutting machine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine with the table partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the vertical segment cutter.

The machine contemplated in this invention comprises a base 1 from which a supporting and guiding standard 2 extends upward, said standard being provided with an offset bracket lug 3 on one side on which an operating lever 4 is fulcrumed at 5, the free end portion 6 of said lever forming a treadle adapted to be depressed by the foot of the operator.

The standard 2, for the greater portion of its length, is formed with a longitudinal slot or guideway 7 having at opposite sides thereof guide ribs 8 as best shown in Fig. 4. Mounted to slide in said slot or guideway is a slide 9 having the opposite edges thereof grooved as shown at 10 to receive the guide tongues 8, whereby the slide is retained Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 513,457.

in proper working relation to the standard. Said slide 9 is moved downward by means of a connecting rod .11 one end of which is pivotally connected to the slide at 12 while the opposite end is pivotally connected to the operating lever 4 at 13. The slide 9 is retracted or drawn upward by means of a spiral spring 14, the upper end of which is attached to a cross bar 15 at the upper end of the standard 2 and the lower end of which is connected to the slide 9 at 16.

Mounted on the front of the standard 2 is a table 17 which is horizontally disposed and provided with a central aperture 18 of suitable size to admit of the passage therethrough of the potatoes, preferably one at a time. Mounted upon the table 17 is a cruci-form cutter comprising two blades 19 and 20 arranged at right angles to each other and intersecting at the center as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the extremities of said blades being secured to holders 21 consisting of blocks which are fastened to the upper surface of the table 17 as shown in Fig. 4. The knives or cutters 19 and 20 extend diametrically across the aperture 18 in the table as shown and serve to divide a downwardly moving potato into four sections or segments. The downward movement of the potato is effected by means of a presser foot 22 carried by an arm 23 on the upper end of the slide 9, said presser foot being moved downward when the operating lever 4 is depressed.

Operating beneath the table 17 and in a plane parallel thereto is a horizontal cutter 24 which is carried by a frame embodying parallel side bars 25, a handle bar 26 at the outer end thereof, and a connecting cross bar 27 arranged a suitable distance back of the cutter 24. This horizontal cutter frame works in guideways 28 formed between the bottom of the table 17 and cleats 29, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 8, said cleats being secured to the sides of the chute hereinafter described. The horizontal cutter 24 is moved outward by a spring 29. lVhen the horizontal cutter is moved inward, it separates from the upper portion of the potato, those portions of the segments which are below the bottom of the table and at the same time the divided oif sections come in contact with deflecting springs 30 and 31 which are secured to the bottom of the table with their free ends projecting beneath the aperture 18.

Arranged below the table and the horizontal cutter 24 is a chute comprising an inclined bottom 32 and triangular shaped sides 33 which support the bottom 2 and are connected to the table 17 The inner one of the sides 33 may also be secured to the standard 2. The divided off sections of the potato are thus directed off to one side by the chute so as to fall into a suitable receptacle placed under the discharge end thereof. The upward movement of the slide 9 is limited by a stop 34 on the slide which comes in contact with the bottom 32 of the chute while the downward movement of said slide is limited by an adjustable stop 35 in the form of a screw inserted in a threaded opening 36 at the bottom of the slot or guideway 7. The outward movement of the horizontal cutter is limited by a stop 36 extending downward from the under side of the table 17 and cooperating with the cross bar 27 of the cutter frame, while the inward movement of said horizontal cutter is limited by the handle bar 26 coming in contact with the I adjacent edge of the table.

I claim A potato cutting machine comprising a supporting base, a supporting and guiding standard extending upward therefrom, a foot-operated spring-retracted slide working lengthwise of said standard and having a tongue and grooveengagement therewith, a presser foot carried by said slide and pro jecting laterally therefrom, a table supported by and projecting horizontally from said standard and provided with an aperture therein, intersecting segment cutters extending across the aperture in the table and in the path of movement of the presser foot, a hand-operated spring-retracted reciprocatory cutter working horizontally between parallel guides on the under side of the table, potato-deflecting springs secured to the under side of the table and arranged to leave a space between them and the bottom of the table in which space the horizontal cutter works, and a potato chute located beneath the table and embodying an inclined bottom.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHESTER G. MARDEN. Witnesses:

ARTHUR RITCHIE, FREEMAN A. (boss. 

